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The 52nd Sacred Tipitakadhara Selec



Subject: The 52nd Sacred Tipitakadhara Selection Examination in the Year 2000

The New Light of Myanmar
Sunday, 19 December, 1999

The 52nd Sacred Tipitakadhara Selection Examination in the Year 2000

It is known that the Union of Myanmar has been a predominantly Theravada 
Buddhist nation in the world for nearly one thousand years, and over (90) per 
cent of nation's population has taken faith in Theravada Buddhism since then. 
Furthermore, the Union of Myanmar has been recognized as a permanent higher 
learning centre of genuine Theravada Buddhism not only in the Buddhist world 
but also throughout the world. According to historical records of Buddhism, 
the Fifth and Sixth Great Buddhist Councils (Synods) were successfully 
convened in the Union of Myanmar with a view to propagating, promoting and 
flourishing the Buddha Sasana (the Buddha's teachings) all over the world. 
The Sixth Great Buddhist Council, which was attended and participated by Maha 
Theras from Five Theravada Buddhist Nations, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Sri 
Lanka and Myanmar, was successfully held in the Union of Myanmar in 1954.

In order to carefully preserve genuine Theravada Buddhism, a great number of 
Buddhist Monastic Institutions and learning centres of Buddhist Scriptures 
have been established in the Union of Myanmar since years ago. For the time 
being, the two Pariyatti Sasana Universities, one in Yangon and another in 
Manadalay have been so far established to promote and propagate the Theravada 
Buddhism throughout the World. At present, Buddhist monk students are 
attending these two universities, and if they have got through the prescribed 
examinations held by these universities, they will be conferred Takkasila 
Dhammacariya Degree (Bachelor of Arts) in Buddhism and Takkasila Maha 
Dhammacariya Degree (Master of Arts) in Buddhism respectively. And now, the 
International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University, the very first one in 
the Buddhist world has been also already established in the Union of Myanmar 
in order to propagate, promote and flourish genuine Theravada Buddhism 
throughout the world, and to share the knowledge of Buddhism both in theory 
and practice with the people of the world to promote their happiness and 
moral well-being.

According to the Pariyatti (learning canonical Texts) Education System of the 
Union of Myanmar, there are eight kinds of religious examinations including 
the Sacred Tipitakadhara Selection Examination yearly held by the Ministry of 
Religious Affairs of the Government of the Union of Myanmar. The eight kinds 
of religious examinations are as follows:

(I) Tipitakadhara Selection Examination

(2) Dhammacariya Examination

(3) Pathamagyi Examination

(4) Pathamalat Examination

(5) Pathamange Examination

(6) Basic Level (Primary) Examination

(7) Abhidhamma/Visudhimagga Examination (only for Laymen and Nuns)

(8) Five Nikaya Examination

Out of these eight kinds of religious examinations, the Sacred Tipitakadhara 
Selection Examination has been separately held by the Ministry of Religious 
Affairs of the Government of the Union of Myanmar since over fifty years ago. 
Buddhist monk-candidates who wish to appear for this sacred Tipitakadhara 
Selection Examination must have passed at least the Pathamagyi Examination. 
In fact, the Sacred Tipitakadhara Selection Examination is quite different 
from other religious examinations because the candidates have to take (33) 
days to sit for this examination. They have to take both oral and written 
examinations as prescribed. The oral examination consists of Pali Texts of 
8026 pages of Tipitaka canons and the written examination consists of Pali 
Texts, Athakatha (Commentaries) and Tika (Sub-Commentaries) of 9934 pages of 
Tipitaka canons respectively. Only the candidates who have got through all 
these pages will be presented the Title of Tipitakadhara and the Title of 
Tipitakadhara Dhammabandagarika (the Title of Religious Heroes). Up to now, 
only six outstanding members of Sangha (Bhikkhus) were presented the Title of 
Tipitakadhara and the Title of Tipitakadhara Dhammabandagarika within over 
(50) years' duration of the Sacred Tipitakadhara Selection Examination.

The six outstanding Bhikkhus who were presented the Title of Tipitakadhara 
Dhammabandagarika and the Title of Tipitakadhara (Religious Heroes) are as 
follows:

Tipitakadhara Dhammabandagarika Title

1.  Ven. Bhaddanta Viccitasarabhivamsa,
    Dhammananda Monastery,
    Mingun Hillock, Sagaing (Passed away)

2.  Yen. Bhaddanta Nemeinda,
    Mahavisutarbvgftr54ama Monastery,
    Pakokku (Passed away)

3.  Ven. Bhaddanta Kosalla,
    Pwint Hla Theingone Monastery, Pyay (Passed away)

4.  Ven. Dr. Bhaddanta Sumangalalankara,
    Tipitaka Mahagandhayone Monastery,
    Mayangone Township, Yangon

5.  Ven. Bhaddanta Sireindhabhivamsa,
    Mahavisudhayone Taikthit (Monastery), 
    Bahan Township, Yangon

Tipitakadhara Title

6.  Ven. Bhaddanta Vayameindhabhivamsa,
    Tipitaka Nikaya Monastery,
    Mingun Hillock, Sagaing

It is learnt that members of Sangha throughout the country appeared for the 
Sacred Tipitakadhara Selection Examination from year to year. However, most 
of them were not successful. In fact, the Sacred Tipitakadhara Selection 
Examination is the most difficult of all religious examinations which are 
yearly held in the Union of Myanmar. Such Sacred Tipitakadhara Selection 
Examination can be held only in the Union of Myanmar which has carefully 
preserved the genuine Theravada Buddhism for nearly one thousand years. It is 
learnt that such examination cannot be held in other Theravada Buddhist 
nations.

Members of Sangha, multifarious Buddhist people and government of the State 
Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar hand in hand, are 
striving to propagate. promote and flourish the genuine Theravada Buddhism 
not only in homeland but also at abroad, We all Buddhists know that the 
Sasana is of the three kinds, viz (1) Pariyatti Sasana (Learning the Buddha's 
teaching), (2) Patipatti Sasana (Practical application of the Buddha's 
teaching) and (3) Pativedha Sasana (Realization of the Buddha's teaching). 
Out of them, the Pariyatti Sasana is the most important one which mainly 
leads to the purification, perpetuation and propagation of the Buddha Sasana 
( the noble teachings of the Buddha). The aims and objectives of holding the 
Sacred Tipitakadhara Selection Examination are to preserve, promote and 
flourish the genuine Theravada Buddhism all over the world.

52nd Sacred Tipitakadhara Selection Examination of Year 2000

We all Buddhists are very pleased to learn that the 52nd Sacred Tipitakadhara 
Selection Examination will be held at Mahapasana Cave (Great Cave) in the 
precinct of Kaba Aye Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar and it will take (33) days 
starting from 26 December 1999. Altogether ( 180) members of Sangha 
throughout the Union of Myanmar will sit for the Sacred Tipitakadhara 
Selection Examination of Year 2000. Lodging and messing (four kinds of 
requisites) for candidates- will be provided by Ministry of Religious 
Affairs, donors and well-wishers throughout (33) days. It is further learnt 
that devotees, well-wishers and other people are cordially invited to visit 
the Mahapasana Cave (examination centre) for paying profound respect to the 
members of Sangha who-will be sitting for the 52nd Sacred Tipitakadhara 
Selection Examination.

Author : Ba Sein (Religious Affairs)